Document Legalisation & Attestation at Pakistan Embassies
Pakistan embassies and high commissions provide attestation and legalisation services for documents that need to be recognised in Pakistan or used for official purposes abroad.
What is Document Attestation?
Document attestation (also called legalisation or authentication) is the process of verifying the genuineness of a document so it can be accepted by authorities in another country. The Pakistan embassy stamp confirms that the document has been properly issued and notarised in the host country.
Documents Commonly Attested
- Educational certificates and transcripts
- Marriage certificates (nikah nama and civil)
- Birth and death certificates
- Medical certificates and fitness reports
- Powers of Attorney (general and special)
- Affidavits and statutory declarations
- Commercial and trade documents
- Police clearance certificates
Step-by-Step Attestation Process
Notarise the Document
Have the document notarised by a licensed notary public in the country where it was issued. For educational documents, this is usually done by the issuing institution or educational authority first.
Apostille or Government Authentication
If the country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, obtain an apostille stamp from the designated authority. If not, get authentication from the relevant government department (e.g., Foreign Office in the UK, State Department in the US).
Submit to Pakistan Embassy
Bring the notarised and apostilled document to the Pakistan embassy along with: original document plus photocopies, your valid passport or NICOP, completed attestation form, and the attestation fee.
Collect Attested Document
Standard processing takes 3-5 working days. Some missions offer same-day or next-day service at a premium fee. The embassy will stamp and sign the document to certify its authenticity.
Attestation Fees
| Document Type | Standard Fee (USD approx.) | Urgent/Same-Day |
|---|---|---|
| Educational Certificate | $15-$30 | $30-$60 |
| Marriage Certificate | $15-$25 | $30-$50 |
| Birth/Death Certificate | $10-$20 | $25-$40 |
| Power of Attorney | $20-$50 | $40-$100 |
| Commercial Document | $25-$50 | $50-$100 |
| Affidavit | $15-$30 | $30-$60 |
* Fees vary by embassy and are paid in local currency. Contact your nearest mission for exact rates.